How to Take a Vacation and Still Keep Your Business Going
As a business owner, your time for leisure and travel is limited. One of the perks of being your own boss is the ability to set your own hours, however more often than not you can't take a vacation because if you're gone, business screeches to a halt! The following are a few ways to help keep your business afloat while you take a much-needed vacation:
If you have employees, office managers, or another business partner taking a vacation can be as simple as having someone else manage the business while you are away. Delegate your day-to-day operations and leave a list of instructions, important procedures, information, etc. Let the second in command know what constitutes an emergency and when and how you can be contacted.
Decided what level of vacation you are taking from your job. Are you going to be receiving and replying to emails? Will you have communication with your office staff? Will you be participating in conference calls? Most office communication programs are setup for automated replies while you are on vacation. Let your customers and clients know ahead of time that you are going to be out of the office and that you will be back at such and such a time. Tell them if they need anything to contact your office and there will be someone there to assist them. After you've notified all of your contacts, setup your automated out of the office email response and remain worry free the rest of your vacation.
One of the quickest ways to ruin a relaxing vacation is the need to be tied to the phone day and night. For the time you plan to be away, try hiring a virtual answering service to take all of your phone calls. You can give the answering service instructions as to the reporting of phone calls, when emergency phone calls come in, etc. You'll be able to relax knowing that your customers are still getting the service and attention they need without having to be connected at the hip to your phone.
If you're a one-man shop, your final option is to close down shop. With a little planning and customer notification you'll have a care-free vacation. The time that you're gone won't make your business any money, but if you let your customers know when you'll be back they'll be sure to plan their needs and visits around your vacation schedule.
Virtual Receptionist Services: Find a cost-efficient virtual answering service for your business and rest easy when you are unavailable or on vacation.
If you have employees, office managers, or another business partner taking a vacation can be as simple as having someone else manage the business while you are away. Delegate your day-to-day operations and leave a list of instructions, important procedures, information, etc. Let the second in command know what constitutes an emergency and when and how you can be contacted.
Decided what level of vacation you are taking from your job. Are you going to be receiving and replying to emails? Will you have communication with your office staff? Will you be participating in conference calls? Most office communication programs are setup for automated replies while you are on vacation. Let your customers and clients know ahead of time that you are going to be out of the office and that you will be back at such and such a time. Tell them if they need anything to contact your office and there will be someone there to assist them. After you've notified all of your contacts, setup your automated out of the office email response and remain worry free the rest of your vacation.
One of the quickest ways to ruin a relaxing vacation is the need to be tied to the phone day and night. For the time you plan to be away, try hiring a virtual answering service to take all of your phone calls. You can give the answering service instructions as to the reporting of phone calls, when emergency phone calls come in, etc. You'll be able to relax knowing that your customers are still getting the service and attention they need without having to be connected at the hip to your phone.
If you're a one-man shop, your final option is to close down shop. With a little planning and customer notification you'll have a care-free vacation. The time that you're gone won't make your business any money, but if you let your customers know when you'll be back they'll be sure to plan their needs and visits around your vacation schedule.
Virtual Receptionist Services: Find a cost-efficient virtual answering service for your business and rest easy when you are unavailable or on vacation.
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